Monday, 22 October 2012

Hibernicus Coal Tits in Wales?

Following on from the 'hibernicus' Coal Tit thread, a good candidate occured today in Pembrokeshire. This quote, which includes interesting notes about the Scilly records, is by Mike Y-P on their blog http://pembsbirds.blogspot.co.uk/ :-

I didn't see Byron's Snow B on the Head this morning but there was a Coal Tit. A close look revealed a dullish olive-green back and mantle warm buff tones on flanks and a creamy yellow suffusion most noticeable in the cheeks. Birds showing these characteristics arrived on St Agnes in the Scilly Isles on October 10th following north-westerly winds. There were at least 20 on St Agnes where they are far, far rarer than the Grey-cheeked Thrush which was present three days before, in fact the last record anywhere in Scilly was 2008. They caused quite a stir and lots of speculation about their provenance since the yellow suffusion in the cheeks is indicative of the Irish race 'hibernicus' (check The 'Collins Guide' or 'Svensson'). So to find a similar bird on a North Pembrokeshire headland today is perhaps predictable but nevertheless quite exciting.

As well as this, Steve Stansfield sent me two pictures of what I think is a good candidate on Bardsey taken in April 2004. Any opinions? I've sent the photos off to some Irish birders for their opinion. A first confirmed Welsh record of this form?

Much about?

This multi-contributor blog is a reel of North Wales bird news, ID discussion, and any other trip reports and useful information added by birders regularly out in the field. Please contact me at: robinsandham (at) hotmail.co.uk if you want to contribute or report any notable sightings.